| location = between the Brandywine River and the Old Forest, east of the Shire, Central [[Eriador]]

| location = between the Brandywine River and the Old Forest, east of the Shire, Central [[Eriador]]

| populace= [[Hobbits]], mostly of the eponymous Brandybuck clan

| populace= [[Hobbits]], mostly of the eponymous Brandybuck clan

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}}

}}

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'''Buckland''' is a small but densely populated sliver of land between the [[Old Forest]] and the east bank of the [[Brandywine]] river, inhabited by [[Hobbits]] from the Shire, mostly of the Brandybuck family, who colonized it. Buckland was thus technically not part of the Shire itself, and was effectively a tiny independent country.

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'''Buckland''' was a small but densely populated sliver of land between the [[Old Forest]] and the east bank of the [[Brandywine]] river, inhabited by [[Hobbits]] from the Shire, mostly of the Brandybuck family, who colonized it. Buckland was thus technically not part of the Shire itself, and was effectively a tiny independent country.

740 years after the founding of [[the Shire]], in {{TA|2340}}, [[Gorhendad Oldbuck]] crossed the River [[Brandywine]] from the [[Eastfarthing]] and started the building of [[Brandy Hall]] in [[Buck Hill]], in a land hitherto unpopulated by hobbits.

740 years after the founding of [[the Shire]], in {{TA|2340}}, [[Gorhendad Oldbuck]] crossed the River [[Brandywine]] from the [[Eastfarthing]] and started the building of [[Brandy Hall]] in [[Buck Hill]], in a land hitherto unpopulated by hobbits.

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The Bucklanders soon found themselves threatened by the strange trees of the Forest, and so built a vast hedge, the [[High Hay]], stretching twenty miles along the eastern border of their land. This was not the only danger to threaten Buckland - in {{TA|2911}}), the year of the [[Fell Winter]], the Brandywine froze and Buckland was invaded by white wolves.

The Bucklanders soon found themselves threatened by the strange trees of the Forest, and so built a vast hedge, the [[High Hay]], stretching twenty miles along the eastern border of their land. This was not the only danger to threaten Buckland - in {{TA|2911}}), the year of the [[Fell Winter]], the Brandywine froze and Buckland was invaded by white wolves.

Buckland was also the childhood home of [[Frodo Baggins]], who returned here on his journey to [[Bree]] in {{TA|3018}}. He bought a house in [[Crickhollow]], and claimed that he would be living there, but instead entered the [[Old Forest]] through the old private gate of the [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybucks]] through the [[High Hay]], and left the Shire.

Buckland was also the childhood home of [[Frodo Baggins]], who returned here on his journey to [[Bree]] in {{TA|3018}}. He bought a house in [[Crickhollow]], and claimed that he would be living there, but instead entered the [[Old Forest]] through the old private gate of the [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybucks]] through the [[High Hay]], and left the Shire.

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Buckland was technically not part of the Shire (as granted by the [[King of Arthedain]]), and was indeed formed over 300 years after Arthedain ceased to exist. Buckland may actually have been in what used to be considered part of [[Cardolan]] and may never have belonged to Arthedain, further making its colonization an independent action by the Hobbits. Thus, Buckland was essentially a small independent country of Hobbits, mostly of the Brandybuck family.

Buckland was technically not part of the Shire (as granted by the [[King of Arthedain]]), and was indeed formed over 300 years after Arthedain ceased to exist. Buckland may actually have been in what used to be considered part of [[Cardolan]] and may never have belonged to Arthedain, further making its colonization an independent action by the Hobbits. Thus, Buckland was essentially a small independent country of Hobbits, mostly of the Brandybuck family.

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However it was effectively not much different from other Hobbit family homelands (such as the [[Tookland]], which the [[Took Family|Tooks]] were effectively controlling). Authority in the Shire had become so bucolic and decentralized, that simply no one took the time to assert these rival claims. Parts of the [[Marish]], part of the Shire-proper, acknowledge the authority of the [[Master of Buckland]] and not the [[Thain]] of the Shire.

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However, it was effectively not much different from other Hobbit family homelands (such as the [[Tookland]], which the [[Took Family|Tooks]] were effectively controlling). Authority in the Shire had become so bucolic and decentralized, that simply no one took the time to assert these rival claims. Parts of the [[Marish]], part of the Shire-proper, acknowledge the authority of the [[Master of Buckland]] and not the [[Thain]] of the Shire.

In practice, Hobbits from the Shire-proper seem to have considered Buckland an odd frontier of "the Shire" more than as a separate country.

In practice, Hobbits from the Shire-proper seem to have considered Buckland an odd frontier of "the Shire" more than as a separate country.

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==Culture==

==Culture==

Although similar in many ways to other hobbits, the Bucklanders did have certain peculiarities. Due no doubt in part to the [[Fallohides|Fallohidish]] blood of the Brandybucks, the hobbits of Buckland were somewhat more adventurous than their cousins in the Shire (while still conservative by the measure of many other races in Middle-earth). The Bucklanders are characterized as being of predominantly [[Stoors|Stoor]] ancestry, and were thus a people accustomed to riversides. They enjoyed boating, an activity frowned upon by Shire-hobbits, and some of them could even swim. Due to the often muddy nature of the land near the river, it was not uncommon for Bucklanders to wear boots, making them the only Hobbits known to wear shoes.

Although similar in many ways to other hobbits, the Bucklanders did have certain peculiarities. Due no doubt in part to the [[Fallohides|Fallohidish]] blood of the Brandybucks, the hobbits of Buckland were somewhat more adventurous than their cousins in the Shire (while still conservative by the measure of many other races in Middle-earth). The Bucklanders are characterized as being of predominantly [[Stoors|Stoor]] ancestry, and were thus a people accustomed to riversides. They enjoyed boating, an activity frowned upon by Shire-hobbits, and some of them could even swim. Due to the often muddy nature of the land near the river, it was not uncommon for Bucklanders to wear boots, making them the only Hobbits known to wear shoes.

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When the [[Bree-folk]] ventured to the Shire, Buckland was their usual destination (though some ventured as far as the Eastfarthing), and so was rather more cosmopolitan (in hobbit terms) than the rest of the land.

When the [[Bree-folk]] ventured to the Shire, Buckland was their usual destination (though some ventured as far as the Eastfarthing), and so was rather more cosmopolitan (in hobbit terms) than the rest of the land.

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==Part of the Shire?==

==Part of the Shire?==

The ''[[Prologue]]'' to the ''[[Fellowship of the Ring]]'' [[Tolkien]] states:

The ''[[Prologue]]'' to the ''[[Fellowship of the Ring]]'' [[Tolkien]] states:

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:{{Blockquote|Outside the Farthings were the East and West Marches: the Buckland; and the [[Westmarch]] added to the Shire in {{SR|1452}} [1462 in the earlier edition).}}

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{{Blockquote|Outside the Farthings were the East and West Marches: the Buckland''';''' and the [[Westmarch]] added to the Shire in {{SR|1452}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>{{SR|1462|n}} in earlier editions].}}

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The sentence seems to imply that both Westmarch and Buckland were added to the Shire in {{FoA|32}} (or {{FoA|42}} according to the old edition). However the semi-colon separates Buckland from Westmarch, showing that only "the [[Westmarch]] added to the Shire". Furthermore, the [[Appendix B]] mentions the creation of the Westmarch in {{FoA|31}}, but there is no reference to Buckland or an "Eastmarch".

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The sentence seems to imply that not only Westmarch, but also Buckland was added to the Shire in {{FoA|32}} (or {{FoA|42}} according to the old edition).

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Several reference works seem to interpret the phrase in a way that Buckland was joined to the Shire, and refer to it as "Eastmarch", whereas such a name is not mentioned in Tolkien's text.

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Several reference works seem to interpret the phrase in such a way, and refer to it as "Eastmarch", whereas such a name is not mentioned in Tolkien's text.

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[[Robert Foster]] says: ''Buckland was officially added to [the Shire] by the gift of [[King Elessar]] in FO 42 and was then known as the East March.''<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' p. 57 entry "Buckland"</ref>. Note also that his dating of FO 42 mirrors the earlier uncorrected date of the ''Prologue''.

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[[Robert Foster]] says: ''Buckland was officially added to [the Shire] by the gift of [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] in FO 42 and was then known as the East March.''<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' p. 57 entry "Buckland"</ref>. Note also that his dating of FO 42 mirrors the earlier uncorrected date of the ''Prologue''.

However, these interpretations ignore the semi-colon in the above quote, which separates Buckland from Westmarch, showing that only "the [[Westmarch]] added to the Shire". Furthermore, the [[Appendix B]] mentions the creation of the Westmarch in {{FoA|31}}, but there is no reference to Buckland or an "Eastmarch".

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==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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The word "Buck" means "goat" or "deer", and comes from the family name [[Oldbucks]].

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The word ''[[Wiktionary:buck|buck]]'' means "goat" or "deer", and comes from the family name [[Oldbucks]].

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''Buckland'' and ''Little Buckland'' are real places in England, located just to the south of [[Evesham]].<ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[The Hobbitonian Anthology]]'', pp. 97, 112.</ref> The etymology of these towns comes from ''book'' (i.e. The Bible), referring to a land that was owned by a church or a written charter.<ref name="Nomen">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]" in [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (eds), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 754</ref>

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''Buckland'' and ''Little Buckland'' are real places in England, located just to the south of [[Evesham]].<ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[The Hobbitonian Anthology]]'', pp. 97, 112</ref> The etymology of these towns comes from ''book'' (i.e. The Bible), referring to a land that was owned by a church or a written charter.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 754</ref> There is a Buckland in [[Wikipedia:Pembrokeshire|Pembrokeshire]], Wales in the parish of Llan-sant-ffraid. The gloss for this Welsh ''Buckland'' exactly matches Tolkien's instructions in [[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings| ''Nomenclature'']] for translating the name ''Buckland''. It means the "land of the deer".<ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[Tolkien and Welsh]]'' pp. 18-19</ref>

==Inspiration==

==Inspiration==

Tolkien mentioned that the survival of traces of the older language of the Stoors and the Bree-men resembled the survival of [[Celtic]] elements in England.

Tolkien mentioned that the survival of traces of the older language of the Stoors and the Bree-men resembled the survival of [[Celtic]] elements in England.

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{{references}}

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{{References}}

[[Category:Buckland| ]]

[[Category:Buckland| ]]

[[de:Bockland]]

[[de:Bockland]]

[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/comte/pays_de_bouc]]

[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/comte/pays_de_bouc]]

[[fi:Bukinmaa]]

[[fi:Bukinmaa]]

Revision as of 19:34, 16 September 2012

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.

Buckland was a small but densely populated sliver of land between the Old Forest and the east bank of the Brandywine river, inhabited by Hobbits from the Shire, mostly of the Brandybuck family, who colonized it. Buckland was thus technically not part of the Shire itself, and was effectively a tiny independent country.

As Gorhendad's family grew, the Hall also expanded, and soon there was a flourishing community in the land between the River and the Old Forest. From that time, Buckland was ruled by the Brandybucks (as Gorhendad renamed his family to reflect their new relationship with the river), who were given the title 'Master of Buckland'.

The village of Bucklebury, lying close by Buck Hill, was Buckland's chief village, but with the expanding population, many other villages soon grew up in the region, the largest of which were Newbury, Crickhollow and Standelf. The growing power of the Master of Buckland gained respect from those close by in the Eastfarthing, too; the lands of the Marish between Stock and Rushey also acknowledged themselves under the sway of Brandy Hall.

The Bucklanders soon found themselves threatened by the strange trees of the Forest, and so built a vast hedge, the High Hay, stretching twenty miles along the eastern border of their land. This was not the only danger to threaten Buckland - in T.A.2911), the year of the Fell Winter, the Brandywine froze and Buckland was invaded by white wolves.

Status

Buckland was technically not part of the Shire (as granted by the King of Arthedain), and was indeed formed over 300 years after Arthedain ceased to exist. Buckland may actually have been in what used to be considered part of Cardolan and may never have belonged to Arthedain, further making its colonization an independent action by the Hobbits. Thus, Buckland was essentially a small independent country of Hobbits, mostly of the Brandybuck family.

However, it was effectively not much different from other Hobbit family homelands (such as the Tookland, which the Tooks were effectively controlling). Authority in the Shire had become so bucolic and decentralized, that simply no one took the time to assert these rival claims. Parts of the Marish, part of the Shire-proper, acknowledge the authority of the Master of Buckland and not the Thain of the Shire.

In practice, Hobbits from the Shire-proper seem to have considered Buckland an odd frontier of "the Shire" more than as a separate country.

Culture

Although similar in many ways to other hobbits, the Bucklanders did have certain peculiarities. Due no doubt in part to the Fallohidish blood of the Brandybucks, the hobbits of Buckland were somewhat more adventurous than their cousins in the Shire (while still conservative by the measure of many other races in Middle-earth). The Bucklanders are characterized as being of predominantly Stoor ancestry, and were thus a people accustomed to riversides. They enjoyed boating, an activity frowned upon by Shire-hobbits, and some of them could even swim. Due to the often muddy nature of the land near the river, it was not uncommon for Bucklanders to wear boots, making them the only Hobbits known to wear shoes.

When the Bree-folk ventured to the Shire, Buckland was their usual destination (though some ventured as far as the Eastfarthing), and so was rather more cosmopolitan (in hobbit terms) than the rest of the land.

There were some minor linguistic regional differences between Buckland and the Shire. The Brandybucks of Buckland are noted as having a particularly high concentration of Stoorish blood. Thus there were some minor linguistic anomalies in the place-names of Buckland and perhaps the accent of its speech. Also, Hobbits of Stoorish blood are noted as being the only Hobbits who are known to normally grow facial hair.

Living under constant danger from the Old Forest, the Bucklanders were hardier and more suspicious than the usual Shire-hobbit. They were organised to deal with danger (through the famous Horn-call of Buckland), and they kept their doors locked at night, which was unusual in the Shire.

Due to these cultural differences, there was an ubiquitous sentiment in other regions of the Shire (such as Hobbiton and Bywater) that "there's queer folk in Buckland".

Part of the Shire?

Outside the Farthings were the East and West Marches: the Buckland; and the Westmarch added to the Shire in S.R.1452 [1462 in earlier editions].

The sentence seems to imply that not only Westmarch, but also Buckland was added to the Shire in Fo.A.32 (or Fo.A.42 according to the old edition).

Several reference works seem to interpret the phrase in such a way, and refer to it as "Eastmarch", whereas such a name is not mentioned in Tolkien's text.

Robert Foster says: Buckland was officially added to [the Shire] by the gift of King Elessar in FO 42 and was then known as the East March.[1]. Note also that his dating of FO 42 mirrors the earlier uncorrected date of the Prologue.

Karen Wynn Fonstad also says: Two adjacent areas were added to the Shire: the Eastmarch (Buckland) and...[2]

However, these interpretations ignore the semi-colon in the above quote, which separates Buckland from Westmarch, showing that only "the Westmarch added to the Shire". Furthermore, the Appendix B mentions the creation of the Westmarch in Fo.A.31, but there is no reference to Buckland or an "Eastmarch".

Etymology

The word buck means "goat" or "deer", and comes from the family name Oldbucks.

Buckland and Little Buckland are real places in England, located just to the south of Evesham.[3] The etymology of these towns comes from book (i.e. The Bible), referring to a land that was owned by a church or a written charter.[4] There is a Buckland in Pembrokeshire, Wales in the parish of Llan-sant-ffraid. The gloss for this Welsh Buckland exactly matches Tolkien's instructions in Nomenclature for translating the name Buckland. It means the "land of the deer".[5]

Inspiration

Tolkien mentioned that the survival of traces of the older language of the Stoors and the Bree-men resembled the survival of Celtic elements in England.